Overview

"True American heroes need not have superhuman abilities nor do they need to act alone. Heroism in a democracy is different from the heroism of myths and legends, writes Gerald Pomper in this original contribution to the literature of U.S. politics. Through the remarkable stories of eight diverse Americans who acted as heroes by ""just doing their jobs"" during national crises, he offers a provocative definition of heroism and fresh reasons to respect U.S. institutions and the people who work within them. This new paperback edition includes photographs, an introductory chapter on American heroism after 9/11, a survey of the meanings of heroism in U.S. popular culture, and an original concluding theory of ""ordinary"" heroism."

Full Product Details

Author:   Gerald M. Pomper
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Inc
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 12.90cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.385kg
ISBN:  

9781594513916

ISBN 10:   1594513910
Pages:   328
Publication Date:   15 February 2007
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Reviews

Shows how an individual can make a difference, despite the size and scale of politics in an immense nation trying to keep a democracy. -- Theodore J. Lowri, Cornell University A fascinating examination of heroes and the nature of heroism in a democratic society. -- Marjorie Hershey, Indiana University Pomper's inspiring book provokes us to think about how American democracy and American political institutions foster the heroism of ordinary people. -- Bruce Miroff, State University of New York, Albany This collection of short biographical essays explores an important and understudied phenomenon: uncharismatic but exceptional service that sometimes lifts the standards of American politics. On other occasions, we have learned about the banality of evil. By contrast, Gerald Pomper investigates the possibilities of virtue when institutional routines are guided by decent, skilled, and dedicated public servants, both in and out of government. -- Nelson W. Polsby, University of California, Berkeley Pomper's compelling narratives of eight Americans deftly illustrate his argument that democratic heroes are ordinary people doing their customary, that is institutionally-rooted, work in times of crisis. This book makes a powerful and sophisticated case for the importance and resiliency of political institutions in nurturing extraordinary contributions to public life from unheralded individuals. -- Thomas E. Mann, The Brookings Institution After September 11, 2001, there was a lot of talk about ordinary heroes, but Gerald Pomper took the extra and essential step. With clarity and eloquence, he explores what makes ordinary heroes extraordinary and what gives them the courage to live up to their values not just when it's easy but also when it's hard. Like John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage, Pomper's On Ordinary Heroes tells fascinating stories about fascinating people. This is a great contribution to scholarship and to our country's civic life. -- E. J. Dionne Jr., Georgetown University

Shows how an individual can make a difference, despite the size and scale of politics in an immense nation trying to keep a democracy. -- Theodore J. Lowri, Cornell University A fascinating examination of heroes and the nature of heroism in a democratic society. -- Marjorie Hershey, Indiana University Pomper's inspiring book provokes us to think about how American democracy and American political institutions foster the heroism of ordinary people. -- Bruce Miroff, State University of New York, Albany This collection of short biographical essays explores an important and understudied phenomenon: uncharismatic but exceptional service that sometimes lifts the standards of American politics. On other occasions, we have learned about the banality of evil. By contrast, Gerald Pomper investigates the possibilities of virtue when institutional routines are guided by decent, skilled, and dedicated public servants, both in and out of government. -- Nelson W. Polsby, University of California, Berkeley Pomper's compelling narratives of eight Americans deftly illustrate his argument that democratic heroes are ordinary people doing their customary, that is institutionally-rooted, work in times of crisis. This book makes a powerful and sophisticated case for the importance and resiliency of political institutions in nurturing extraordinary contributions to public life from unheralded individuals. -- Thomas E. Mann, The Brookings Institution After September 11, 2001, there was a lot of talk about ordinary heroes, but Gerald Pomper took the extra and essential step. With clarity and eloquence, he explores what makes ordinary heroes extraordinary and what gives them the courage to live up to their values not just when it,s easy but also when it,s hard. Like John F. Kennedy,s Profiles in Courage, Pomper,s On Ordinary Heroes tells fascinating stories about fascinating people. This is a great contribution to scholarship and to our country,s civic life. -- E. J. Dionne Jr., Georgetown University

Author Information

Gerald M. Pomper is Board of Governors Professor of Political Science (Emeritus) at Rutgers University. He is the author or editor of twenty books and many articles on U.S. politics.

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